The competition on store shelves is as fierce as ever, as an influx of new brands fight for attention from discerning consumers. The look and feel of a label can make all the difference, especially in high-end markets that range from cosmetics and health and beauty to wine and spirits.

The addition of foiling can serve as a key differentiator, as new materials help deliver a luxurious and elegant design that conveys prestige.

“Foil and embellishment additions to labels give the illusion of being more attractive and luxurious,” explains Richard Jackson, director of sales, K Laser Technology USA. “They create more stimulation for both visual and tactile senses, and increase visibility for products on the shelf so that they can better stand out.”

For label converters, there are a number of factors to keep in mind when producing a label complete with foils and embellishments.

“When laying down cold foil, certain situations should be factored in,” remarks Gary Bibler, director of new creative business, K Laser Technology USA. “These include the proximity of other foil areas, as foil shouldn’t be too close. Foil being too close can risk swelling into the neighboring graphic element. Plus, you do not run foil beyond the dieline. This has the potential to crush and chip the foil.”

“You want to ensure they have the correct adhesives and/or coatings for the different substrates such as shrink sleeve versus semi-gloss substrates,” adds Jackson.  “Their equipment must also be 100% operational. UV units play a very important role in foil applications, too. The nip roll should be an 85 or higher durometer.”

To better assist customers with the challenges associated with foiling, K Laser has established a Cold Foil Design Lab located in Sarasota, FL, USA. The facility, which opened in early 2023, allows prospective customers to experiment with new materials and gain assistance from K Laser’s wide range of product experts.

“We are continually launching modular design services through our Design Lab to our customers in the US,” states Curtis Ju, director of global initiatives, K Laser Technology USA. “These services include holographic design, mockup, prototyping, production and more.”

The Cold Foil Design Lab is equipped to help label printers with packaging ideation, specialty print mockups, digital embellishment equipment demonstrations, and technical education.  The facility is occupied by K Laser Technology’s Creative Team to consult on artwork for labels, packaging, shrink sleeves, sheets, folding cartons, and tube packaging designs. Companies designing or redesigning product packaging are encouraged to visit the K Laser Technology, states K Laser Technology USA.

“We’re doing all the hard work for you at this lab,” says Nicole Rivera, director of administration and marketing, K Laser Technology USA. “You don’t need extra manpower because we’re handling all the prototypes and mockups. We’ll do the R&D for you in this space, and we’ll help you become more competitive and more efficient. We have a creative team to help you and your clients, so anything foil related come see us.”

K Laser Technology USA has also established partnerships with numerous companies to showcase the benefits of its product offerings. OEM partners include Brotech, JetFX, Gonderflex, among others, who can highlight K Laser’s metallic and holographic embellishments in production during their finishing equipment demonstrations.

K Laser Technology USA also strives to work with designers, to develop the best possible label within the parameters of their project.

“We want to work with designers in the beginning stages of a design project and guide them with some methods to achieve what they want to do,” comments Bibler. “We always want to be true to the brand colors while allowing for attention-grabbing effects that really draw in the viewer’s focus. We take into account a lot of factors such as the detail of the artwork, line weight, thickness, how much foil to use, pattern, opacities to be used, negative space and more.”